Idol Style

The Detroit Free Press interviewed "American Idol" wardrobe stylist Miles Siggins about his unique perspective on this season's contestants. He's the man who helps the budding idols through the tricky process of selecting their outfits and polishing their personal style. Put another way, it's his job to make sure the kids won't be cut down by Simon Cowell for their clothing. "A lot of these contestants, they haven't had massive exposure to fashion," says Siggins, who's been with the show since the second season. In his opinion, the clothing ranks right up there in importance with the singing. "The first thing people see when (the finalists) step out onstage, they don't hear their voices, they see what they're wearing," he notes in his clipped British accent.

Sometimes, Siggins can't prevent a major fashion faux pas, like Season 3 runner-up Diana DeGarmo's tendency to favor the sparkly Miss America look. In most cases, Siggins is able to coax "Idol" hopefuls out of their comfort zones and into something with star quality, like the hot pants and halter top that gave Haley Scarnato a boost of sex appeal on the March 20 episode. "My push was to get her out of the kind of little pageantry tops she's been wearing," Siggins says. "That's what she's worn for years and years, but to me, you can see any girl in America wearing that on a Saturday night."

What about the other contestants? He's worked to get Melinda Doolittle away from suits and collars that emphasize her short neck and her tendency to shyly hunch her shoulders. "I've kind of deliberately gotten her into dresses and things with no collar, really," he says.

Beat-boxer Blake Lewis is one of the easier guys to shop with because he's confident about what he likes, according to Siggins. "It's weird. This year, the guys have been more picky than the girls, as far as clothes." The pickiest of them all is Chris Richardson. "He wants to see every single thing out there, and then he'll go back to the first thing he saw," says an amused Siggins.

Sanjaya Malakar, who's constantly picked on by critics, is having fun with his style choices. "We're trying to keep him a bit age-appropriate because he's a young guy," says Siggins. "So I don't think we're going to be seeing him in suits." And Phil Stacey, who's used to military uniforms, is slowly learning to care more about clothes. Where does Siggins stand on the hat-or-no-hat issue regarding the bald Stacey? "He's got no hair, so embrace it," he says. "I'm a big fan of embracing your traits. Enjoy what you are and enjoy the moment."

Siggins heaves a sigh when asked about Cowell's tendency to be a fashion critic. During British invasion week, Cowell even said LaKisha Jones' diamonds weren't real. They certainly were, Siggins assures. "To be honest, Simon just says things to rile people up, to try and get an argument," he explains. "He's like a spoiled little British schoolboy sometimes. "Being British, I know exactly what they're like."

FORMER IDOLS REPORT

... Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice sings the theme song to the new Will Ferrell movie "Blades of Glory." Producer Ben Stiller has been a fan of Bo’s since his Idol run and invited him to work on the song. You can listen to the tune at the official Blades of Glory Blades of Glory MySpace.com Site.

... Good news for Season 3 finalist George Huff. His single, “You Know Me,” has been nominated for a Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year. The awards will be presented on April 25, 2007 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, and will be hosted by Brian Littrell, Natalie Grant and Donnie McClurkin. The show will be broadcast in national syndication during May.

... TV Guide reports that Constantine Maroulis has been cast on the soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful." Maroulis, who in the past year has been featured in the Broadway musical "The Wedding Singer" and the Off-Broadway revue "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well," will play a partly fictionalized version of himself on the show.

"We're going to blur reality à la 'Entourage' and have Constantine play a fictional version of himself," "B&B" Executive Producer Brad Bell told the magazine. Look for Maroulis to be involved in the Phoebe/Rick storyline -- he will initially join the soap as a possible music producer for Phoebe. He is shceduled to begin his appearances on the show this summer. Bell also teases that there may be other former Idols appearing on Bold and the Beautiful this summer.

... The Orlando Sentinel says that Jennifer Hudson might star in Aussie director Rowan Woods' film "Winged Creatures," playing the daughter of fellow-Oscar winner Forest Whitaker. The cast list is already star-packed, with Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley, Guy Pearce, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Embeth Davidtz, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Josh Hutcherson. The story revolves around the witnesses to a murder-suicide in a fast-food restaurant as they cope with the aftermath of the incident and how they affect the people who help them along the way. Apparently, Hudson is busy recording her debut album (set for release on Arista in the fall) but still wants to join the cast.

SIMON TAKES SOME SHORT SHOTS

Simon Cowell is too short to flirt, or so says Britain's
"Got Talent" co-presenter Amanda Holden to the UK Web site What's on TV. Holden told the Sun that the 47-year-old falls a little short of her lofty standards. "I trust Simon's opinions but he wouldn't get anywhere flirting with me," the "Wild at Heart" star laughed. "He's only 4 feet! How can he flirt with me and be serious?"

The 35-year-old then stuck the boot in: "He wouldn't dream of being seriously flirty. Have you seen his built up shoes?" Holden, who is engaged to record executive Chris Hughes, also said she wouldn't take her daughter to work with her because of Simon's attitude to children. "I had a photo of her on my phone and Simon just said, 'You've got dogs too, haven't you? Have you got a picture of a dog?'," she revealed, adding that she had nicknamed him The Child Catcher after the villain in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Expect sparks to fly in the ITV1 show which kicks off in June.

HOLD THE CHEESE, SAYS STONE

According to Star Pulse, soul singer Joss Stone thinks "American Idol'" keeps getting more and more cheesy and is past its prime. The Brit, who was discovered on U.K. talent show "Star for a Night," admits she was a big fan of the first season of Idol, but the program no longer appeals to her.

"I think if you keep going with it, it's gonna get more and more cheesy... and that's a shame for the artists, because they just want any break." Stone also questions the credentials of the show's judges and believes they're too mean, "There's some great people there, like Randy [Jackson] ... He has every right to judge them. But the rest of them ... why are you judging these people?"

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